This name of the famous fifth-century sorcerer and mentor of King Arthur may or may not be a bit wizardy for a real-life modern child. Its most noted modern bearer: football star turned actor Merlin Olsen, whose father was named Merle.

A widely used name, Kaylee pulls together something from Kayla and something from Hailey, yet somehow loses something in the process. It has surpassed cousin Kayla on the charts and is one of three girls' names starting with Kthat ranks in the US Top 100.

A Hispanic classic that has lost some momentum in recent years. It could be misunderstood by some as Jamie -- which is how it's pronounced on Game of Thrones.

The unisex word name Bean, distant cousin of the infamous Apple, was used for the name of a child of mysterious gender in Louise Penny's novel "A Rule Against Murder." While we can imagine Bean as a cute nickname for a yet-unnamed and unborn baby, we don't recommend it for real life.

Alyss is a feminine name that serves as a stylistic variant of Alice, which derives from the Germanic name Adalheidis, meaning 'noble type' or 'of noble kind.' This particular spelling gives the classic name a more modern, distinctive edge while maintaining its elegant sound. The variation gained some attention following the publication of fantasy novels featuring characters with this spelling. Historically, Alice has been popular across many English-speaking countries, with this alternative spelling adding a unique touch. The name has literary associations with Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' evoking images of curiosity and adventure. Alyss offers parents a way to honor tradition while adding a contemporary twist to a timeless name.